Printer s composing-stick



CAD

ALEXANDER CALHOUN, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

PRINTER/S COMPOSING-STICK.

Specification of Letters V:Patent No. 21,321, dated August 31, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER CALHOUN, of the city of Hartford, county of Hartford, and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Mode of Constructing Printers Composing- Sticks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a correct description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in the application of a clasping band, attached and combined with the sliding knee bracket to prevent springing by the pressure of tight spacing or long-continued use.

'Io enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The drawing-Figure l a face view of the stick; Fig. 2 end section showing band, &c.; Fig. 3 end view.

The general construction of my c0mposing stick frame is of the well known customary form and of various sizes. The sliding knee bracket A is also of similar shape to a variety of others.

My improvement is in the application of the sliding band B, which passes from the front part of the bracket A under the bottom and up the back, and folds over the top edge of the frame, the whole forming one combined freely sliding guide and knee bracket, regulated and adjusted by the action of the thumb screw C, in theV back.

A plate or gib D is placed between the back of the stick and the band B, for the end of the thumb screw C, to press on in tightening and adjusting the bracket, allowing the whole to work and slide easily and freely.

The utility of my invention consists in the remedy for the imperfections of the usual sliding knee bracket, which has always been a source of annoyance to good printers (viz) when the space is lill'ed with the type the pressure of the increasing upper lines causes the bracket to spring back out of a right angle making the last lines set continually increasing a trifle longer than the first ones, by the yielding and springing of the thin bottom of the frame edge E, thus making it impossible for a printer to make good work and square.

My band B by passing up and lapping over the top edge in the manner shown and described is an effectual bar to the upper part of the bracket A from springing back out of a right angle, and with no detriment whatever to the sliding but rather an improvement.

Another' benefit also arising out of this method is that the frame E may be made lighter and thinner, an essential consideration to printers on long work, and at all times.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The application or' the band B in the manner .and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and described.

ALEXR. CALHOUN. Wvitnesses WM. VINE, J. B. BROWN. 

